Boiler cleaner



Nov- 22, 1932- J. H. STOVCKHOLDER BOILER CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1931 gmanliot Nov- 22, 1932- .1. H. STOCKHOLDER BOILER CLEANER Filed Oct. 50, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 I UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE BOILER CLEAN ER Application filed October 30, 1931. Serial No. 572,141.

r The invention relates to boiler cleaners, and has for its object to provide a device of this character particularly adapted for installation in locomotive boilers, and provided with means whereby scum may be forced from the vboiler through a scum line, mud from the bottom of the'boiler through a mud line or both.

A further object is to provide a float controlled valve whereby the scum is forced from the boiler when a valve is opened, and the water level has assumed a predetermined level.

A further object is to provide a perforated cage around the float for the float controlled valve for breaking up water currents, and preventing oscillation of the valve and float, except on variations in water level.

A further object is to perforate walls of the float cage so that water will enter the same, but to perforate only the walls disposed in the direction of the recirculating Water so that the water current will not actuate the float.

A further object is to provide flexible pipe connections between one end of the scum line and one end of the mud line extending around the fire box casing. A

A further object is to provide valve means on discharge pipes leading from the scum line and mud line for controlling the dis charge therefrom.

A further object is to provide the scum and mud lines with nozzles formed from pipe sections having longitudinal slits therein forming vanes, which vanes are twisted in a trans verse direction for forming arms for supporting and directing currents during the discharge operation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the in vention. L

In the drawings:

50 Figurel is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a conventional form of locoview through the float cage, taken on line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the scum line.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through a portion of the mud line.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a conventional form of locomotive boiler, through which the water circulates in the direction of the arrows in Figure 1. It has been found that scum accumulates on the top of water within the boiler, and mud accumulates in the bottom of the boiler at 2, and the device hereinafter set forth is adapted to remove the scum from the top of the water or the mud from the bottom, as desired.

Disposed within the boiler 1 adjacent the water level thereof, and preferably supported by stud bolts 3 on the upper side of the fire box casing 4, is a scum line pipe 5. Pipe 5 is formed from a plurality of sections connected together by Ts 6 having intake nozzles 7 threaded therein. Connected to the scum line 5 is an upwardly extending discharge pipe Shaving a disc valve 9 therein, which is controlled by a float 10, whereby when the water level reaches a predetermined elevation, the ports 11 of the disc valve, and the ports 12 of the valve casing 13 register.

Valve casing 13 is preferably provided with a removable cap 14 whereby access to the valve may be readily had for removing or replacing the same. Discharge pipe 8 extends through the boiler wall and additionally supports the scum line and is provided with a valve 15 adapted to be opened by the operator when it is desired to allow the scum to be forced from the boiler by the pressure therein. When the water level is at a preand which vanes are twisted o the "shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that t determined position with the ports lland 12 open or in registration incident to the movement of the float 10, and the valve 15 is opened,

the pressure within the boiler will force the scum and mud through the conduits and the pipe 8 to any suitable source of discharge.

Upon closing of the valve 15 the dischargeoperation is stopped. The mud line 16 is sup-' ported by the lower nozzles 7a, similar in construction to the nozzles 7, and is connected at one end to one end of the scum line by flexible pipes '17 which extend around the forward portion 18 of the fire box, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4, thereby allowing the device, through this flexible connection to be applied to boilers of different size and construction. The mud line 16 is provided with a discharge pipe 19 having a valve 20, and

'through which discharge pipe, the mud is.

. form means for directing scum or mud into the nozzles with a. whirling action, which will have a. tendency to set up a whirling action on 'thewater surface, particularly in the case of the scum line.

Su ported on an arm 22- carried by the discharge pipe 8 from the scum line is a cage 23,

in which the float 10 is disposed. It Wlll be noted that cage 23 has its end walls 24, which are in the line of the recirculating currents, perforated, so that water may enter the cage, but at the same time there will not be a constant oscillation upwardly and downwardly 'of the float 10.

From the above it will be seen that a boiler cleaner is provided, which is particularly adapted for use in connection with locomotive boilers, and constructed in a manner whereby scum from the top of the water or mud from the bottom may be removed as desired, without shutting down the boiler.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. The combination with a locomotive boiler having a fire box, longitudinally dis-' posed tubes, of a combined skimmer and mud removing device, said skimmer being supported by the fire box, said mud removing device disposed beneath the fire box and in the bottom of the boiler and a flexible connection between the skimmer and the mud removing device and extending around the fire box.

2. A mud removing and skimming device for a boiler, said device comprising a pipe,

the arc of the body portion.

intake nozzles carried by said pipe and adapted to receive scum from the upper surface of the water, float controlled means for allowing discharge of scum from said pipe, a mud removing pipe, nozzles carried by said mud removingpipe and supporting the same spaced'from the adjacent surface of a boiler, flexible pipe connections between said" pipes, discharge pipes for the skimming and mud removing pipes and valves carried by said discharge pipes. 3..The.combination with a boiler cleaning 'pipefof nozzles carried by said pipe, said nozzles having cylindrical body portions, said body portions terminating in twisted vanes on arcs other than the arm of the cylindrical body portion.

4: A boiler cleaner nozzlecomprising an elongated body portion, the end of said body J portion being split thereby forming vanes, out of said vanes being twisted to positions 5. The combination with a boiler cleaner valve having a float disposed within a boiler,

of a perforated cage in which the float is disposed, said cage forming means whereby the direct effect of recirculating water within the boiler will not cause a constant movement of the float.

6. The combination with a boiler cleaner valve float, of a cage surrounding said float, said cage having perforated portions in the hue of movement of water within the boiler and non-perforated portions transversely in relation to the line of circulation of water within the boiler, whereby the agitation of the recirculating water will not directly affect the float.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes his signature.

JOHN H. STOCKHOLDER. 

